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COVID-19: One month since first Minnesota death, 160 lives lost to disease

One month after the first COVID-19 death was reported in Minnesota, the disease has claimed 160 lives, according to data released Tuesday from the Minnesota Department of Health.

The number of people who tested positive for the novel coronavirus reached a total of 2,567 cases on Tuesday — 97 new cases since Monday's numbers were released.

The number of reported deaths increased by 18 over Monday's count of 143, but because a previous death was reported in error, the total number of deaths is 160, Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said during Tuesday's daily briefing.

The previous highest single-day death toll since the start of the pandemic was reported Friday, with 17 deaths.

The reported deaths are individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 and later died, meaning there are people who have died with COVID-19 listed on their death certificate that are not included in the current count.

Similarly, not all suspected cases of COVID-19 are tested so the data is not indicative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have been infected with the virus. Testing is limited due to a shortage of supplies nationally.

As of Tuesday, more than 47,000 Minnesotans have been tested for COVID-19. Of the more than 2,500 people who have tested positive, more than 1,200 no longer need to be isolated.

Stearns County gained a cased to reach 18 known cases as of Tuesday. Benton and Sherburne kept the same case count as Monday — with four and 13 known cases, respectively. Wright County has 27 confirmed cases and one death.

Cautious optimism

Despite steady increases, the state is not seeing exponential growth in cases or deaths, prompting Malcolm to call the situation "remarkably stable" and growing at a pace "we think we can manage" in terms of health care capacity and ability to investigate cases to limit future spread.

But experts warn the potential for very rapid spread still exists "unless we're very careful," Malcolm said.

"While it may seem that we're in a lull right now ... we absolutely know we're going to see more cases," said Kris Ehresmann, infectious disease division director.

But the time gained from mitigation efforts is invaluable, allowing public health officials to set up additional resources and better respond to hot spots that might pop up in congregate settings such as long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, jails and prisons, and highly concentrated workplace settings.

Of the 160 reported deaths, 113 — about 71% — were associated with long-term care settings, according to Ehresmann.

The virus is likely entering the facility through community spread: Although many long-term care facilities have implemented visitor restrictions, staff and caretakers still need to come to facilities to serve residents.

Because there's the potential for transmission 48 hours before the onset of symptoms, the virus is likely spreading from direct contact between residents and caregivers, Ehresmann said, emphasizing the staff are likely coming to work in good faith that they are healthy.

Since the first Minnesota case was confirmed on March 6, approximately 630 patients have been hospitalized. As of Tuesday, 237 people required hospitalization, with 117 requiring hospitalization in an ICU.

The age range of Minnesotans with confirmed cases is from 4 months to 104 years. The average age of those who have died from the virus in Minnesota is 83.

Globally there are more than 2.5 million cases and 175,000 deaths due to COVID-19, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. In the U.S. there are nearly 815,000 known cases and 45,000 deaths.

Jenny Berg is the cities and schools reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-259-3680 or jberg@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @bergjenny.